Karine Jean-Pierre to change into White House press secretary, the primary Black and out LGBTQ individual in the position

Jean-Pierre at the moment serves as the White Home's principal deputy press secretary.

"Karine not solely brings the expertise, expertise and integrity wanted for this tough job, however she's going to continue to prepared the ground in speaking about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American individuals," Biden mentioned in a press release, including that "Jen Psaki has set the usual for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White Home Briefing Room."

Jean-Pierre will formally start following Psaki's final day, which shall be Might 13. CNN reported in April that Psaki was planning on leaving her position for one at MSNBC.

Last Might, Jean-Pierre turned the second Black woman in history to hold the daily press briefing. She has served on the White House's senior communications crew since Biden took workplace and before that was an adviser to his marketing campaign and chief of employees to now-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jean-Pierre's family consists of her companion, CNN national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and their daughter.

"I'm nonetheless processing it because, as Jen mentioned, at the prime this can be a historic second and it is not lost on me. I perceive how essential it's for thus many individuals out there. So many various communities that I stand on their shoulders," Jean-Pierre said.

She added: "It is an honor and a privilege to be behind this podium."

Jean-Pierre additionally took a second to thank Psaki.

"She has been only a fantastic colleague, a good friend, a mentor, during this previous 12 months and a half and I don't assume I'd be right here without so many individuals, but together with her and he or she is simply just a true stable, wonderful individual," Jean-Pierre stated.

Jean-Pierre is conversant in her new position. She is usually within the room when Psaki briefs reporters, has filled in for her for at the lectern and has additionally gaggled with reporters touring with Biden on Air Power One. Lately, she changed Psaki at the last minute for Biden's four-day trip to Europe amid the Russian invasion after Psaki tested constructive for Covid-19 the day earlier than Biden was scheduled to depart.

Psaki's departure is unsurprising, given she had been public about her plan to go away after one yr on the job. A number of names had been into consideration to replace her, together with Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who has turn out to be a visual face of the administration in briefings and on cable tv since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

On the White House briefing Thursday, a visibly moved Psaki invited Jean-Pierre as much as the podium together with her and the two girls embraced as Psaki went by Jean-Pierre's qualifications and the importance of her taking the job.

"I just wish to take the chance to celebrate and congratulate my friend, my colleague, my companion in truth, Karine Jean-Pierre, the next White Home press secretary," Psaki informed reporters at the White House.

She added: "She will be the first black girl, the first out LGBTQ+ individual to serve on this function, which is amazing as a result of illustration issues and he or she goes to, she's going to give a voice to so many and permit and present so many what is actually possible while you work onerous, and dream massive and that issues, and ... we must always have a good time that."

Psaki additionally elaborated on Jean-Pierre's profession up, describing her as a "remarkable" particular person with "a long time of expertise."

"I simply cannot wait to see her shine at the podium. So congratulations, and I can't wait to see you deliver your own type, and brilliance, to this job, " Psaki mentioned.

Close Biden adviser returns to White Home

The staffing shakeup in the press workplace comes because the White House is making several other personnel strikes in preparation for a possible Republican takeover on Capitol Hill within the midterm elections. One among Biden's closest advisers, Anita Dunn, will return to the West Wing as a senior adviser, as his team additionally shores up the White Home counsel's workplace, given Republicans have promised to launch a slew of investigations in the event that they retake the bulk.

Dunn is permanently leaving her consulting firm, SKDK, people familiar with the matter tell CNN. She will not be a accomplice within the firm or listed on the corporate's web site, individuals conversant in the matter say.

Whereas Dunn not owns a piece of the firm, after it was bought in 2015, her role as a high strategist to Biden, former President Barack Obama and lots of different elected Democratic officials has given SKDK significant prominence in Washington and beyond. Through the presidential campaign and the first several months of the Biden administration, Dunn took a depart of absence from the agency. But given the brand new position at the White House, people accustomed to the matter say, she is severing ties with the agency.

An official says Dunn will now be a full-time staff member, and -- as with every different full-time staff member -- will signal the ethics pledge, file an OGE 278 and be subject to all White Home ethics and battle of interest guidelines, together with "rigorous counseling" on her ethics obligations.

This story has been up to date with additional developments on Thursday.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny and Sam Fossum contributed to this report.